Karen Chung - Founder of Kossie
“People go on Tinder when they are feeling lonely. People go on Instagram when they are feeling bored. But what if we created a community-driven platform for their mental support when they are feeling left-out, anxious and worried?”
Karen launched Kossie, an online platform designed to support aspirational UK-based women with ambitions to achieve their personal and professional goals when she was living in London. She wanted to create a platform for people to be able to share an entrepreneur's journey to success, but also what lies underneath that success: rejections, failures, doubts, criticism and sacrifices.
Inspired by a toxic work environment in finance, where her colleagues would text each other bemoaning Monday mornings, Karen began to realize how important it is to maintain good mental well-being personally and professionally.
Karen says: “We have Instagram and Facebook that celebrate success and happiness, but there’s no place to celebrate the things underneath 'the success iceberg', nor the negative feelings that come with striving for success. I believe this is the reason why so many millennials’ mental health states are negatively affected - it’s the culture of comparison.”
For more about Karen’s journey, you can read her Founder’s Story!
Favorite motto or quote that keeps you inspired?
“Failure is a part of success.”
Book(s) that inspire you/your company?
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff
In your personal life, what is one daily practice or habit you have to keep you centered and grounded?
Meditation and working out!
Who or what was the biggest motivator for you when you started your business?
Female millennials all over the world!
How do you hope that your company can create a better world?
At Kossie, our mission is to bring the best version of ourselves, together!
What has been the biggest highlight running your own company?
All the failures we've had so that we can create more meaningful content for our audience.
In these current COVID times, what are your favorite mental health practices/tips for women?
Meditation really helps me to stay grounded and focus on the week instead of worrying too much about the future. Additionally, I journal very often and usually start with a sentence like this for myself to answer: ‘How are you feeling?'. I find it helps me pinpoint my feelings and emotions and gives me a good idea of what I need to work on that week, or things to avoid.
What role do you think that vulnerable leadership plays in a company?
Absolutely to connect with others emotionally! This is so important to me: I have no problem crying in front of my team if I need to, and also tell them what I am struggling with. This is because I want my team to be able to share their struggles with me, so we are able to help each other learn and grow. This is the basis that Kossie was built on - we need a safe, strong and supportive work environment to do our best work!
What are the top 3 things women can do to avoid burnout at work in these times?
I believe you should pinpoint what your triggers and signs of burnout are. The signs of burnout are different for everyone - for some it could be hair loss, others it’s crying or for some it’s being very irritable. Recognize the signs emerging and do something about it before it’s too late! Secondly, I am a strong believer in going outdoors when you need a break. Just having a quick walk to reconnect with your mind can do wonders. Finally, GREAT SLEEP! It doesn’t cost a thing but having a good sleep is so important for our mental health.